Rotary sod coring device



Dec. 26, 1967 R E, VON -N- I 3,360,058

ROTARY SOD CORING DEVICE Filed March 7, 1966 VEN TOR. NRc/QE/v I I /1N 0N0 V?) 1 2A YM -AT TORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,360,058 ROTARY SOD CORING DEVICE Raymond E. Von Ruden, Box 334, Owatonna, Minn. 55060 Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,234 8 Claims. (Cl. 175--207) My invention relates generally to rotary tools, and more particularly to a rotary coring device.

Still more particularly, my invention rel-ates to a rotary coring device for removing plugs of earthen material for purposes of refilling the opening left thereby with fertilizer material.

Normally in the care of golf greens, or other such well cared for areas, much care is taken to maintain the grass thereof in as near perfect condition as possible. One way to assure such a condition is to provide the proper nutrition therefor by periodically fertilizing the root systems of such grass. An example of one procedure for applying fertilizer to such areas is to drill or core a plurality of small openings in a desired pattern over the surface of the are-a to be fertilized. Understandably, such coring or drilling should be accomplished without disturbing the surface contour of the area immediately surrounding each opening and without depositing the earthen material removed by the coring device on the surrounding surface.

To this end I provide a tubular shaft which defines an axially extended bore. The upper end of the shaft is provided with means for coupling same to the rotary shaft of a power head. The bore of said shaft terminates at its upper end in a radial outlet and at its lower end in an axially outwardly opening mouth having a diametrically extended wall portion bisecting same. Said shaft is further provided with an upwardly opening, cup-like catch basin concentrically mounted thereon adjacent said radial opening and adapted to catch core pieces emanating from said radial opening.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described in which a core piece or plug may be removed from a golf green or other such well cared for area for the purpose of subsequently fertilizing same without deforming the immediately surrounding ground surface or depositing removed core pieces thereon.

It is another object of my invention to provide a device of the character above described which requires but a minimum of time, effort and skill to operate.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a device of the class above described which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is eX- tremely rugged and durable in use.

These and other highly important objects will become apparent when taken in consideration with the following specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

With reference to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention mounted on a rotary power head;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in axial section showing the present invention in an operative position; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in bottom plan of the present invention, portions thereof being broken away and portions thereof shown in section.

With further reference to the drawings, there is shown a power operated rotary coring device indicated in its entirety by the numeral 10. Coring device comprises a tubular shaft 11 which defines an axially extended bore 12. A coupling element 13, in the nature of a tubular extension of shaft 11, has its lower end connected to the lCe shaft 11 by welding or the like, as at 14, and its upper end detachably connected, as at 15, to a rotary output shaft 16 of a power head 17. Power head 17 is equipped with a speed reduction power transmission 18 which is adapted to impart a suitable speed of rotation to the shaft 11.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the upper end of the bore 12 terminates adjacent the upper end of the shaft 11 and is formed thereat to define a radial opening which provides an outlet 19 for bore 12. Outlet 19 opens into an upwardly opening, cup-like catch basin 20 that is concentrically mounted on the shaft 11 immediately below outlet 19, as at 21. The reason for the catch basin 20 will become apparent hereinafter during a description of the operation.

The other or lower end of shaft 11 defines an axially downwardly opening mouth 22 which communicates with the bore 12. Mouth 22, as shown, is bisected by means of a diametrically extended wall portion 23 which terminates axially within the bore 12 in closely spaced relationship to the mouth 22. Month 22 is further formed with the circumferentially extended lip portion 24 which serves to reduce the diametric dimension of the mouth 22 with respect to the bore 12.

As above described, when it becomes necessary to apply fertilizer to a golf green or other similar area, an operator grasps the handles 25 carried by the transmission 18. Thereafter, with the power head 17 operating, the lower end or mouth 22 of shaft 11 is lowered into engagement with an underlying sod-covered surface A. When the lower cutting edge 26 of shaft 11 engages the surface A, the lower edge of partition 23 shaves or breaks away that portion of the earth underlying same. Subsequent downward movement of the shaft 11 forces such earth into the mouth 22 on opposite sides of the partition 23 and forms the semicylindric-al core pieces 27.

It will be here noted that the exterior diametric dimension of the shaft 11 along a major portion of the length thereof, that is from the lower end of shaft 11 to a point immediately below the catch basin 20, is not greater than that of the lower end of shaft 11. Consequently, as the shaft 11 progresses into the earth, no displacement or distortion of the earth radially of the shaft takes place. As a result the upper surface A, adjacent the shaft 11, is left in the same condition as it was prior to the coring operation. It will also be seen that, during removal of the shaft 11 from the cored out opening, the coring device need not be tipped to the side to break the core pieces 27 free at their base. This, of course, has already been accomplished by the rotating partition 23 causing the core pieces 27 to rotate therewith.

As the core pieces 27 pass through the mouth 22 of shaft -11, the diametrically reduced lip portion 24 together with the partition 23 cause the combined diametric dimension of the core pieces 27 to be less than the diametric dimension of the bore 12 above the lip 24 and partition 23. With this arrangement it will be seen that the core pieces 27 are easily moved axially within the bore 12 by incoming core pieces 27, during subsequent coring operations, until they reach a point where they pass through the outlet 19 into the catch basin 20. As shown, particularly in FIG. 2, the upper end of the bore 12 is formed with the curved surface 28 which directs the core pieces 27 through the radial outlet 19. With the curved surface 28, it will be seen that core pieces 27 have no chance of plugging the bore 12 and rendering the coring device 10 inoperative.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above-noted objects; and while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment, I wish it to be specifically understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coring device for use with a power head having a rotary output shaft projecting therefrom comprising:

(a) a tubular shaft defining an axially extended bore;

(b) means for coupling one end of said shaft to the extended end of the rotary output shaft;

(c) said bore terminating adjacent said one end and defining thereat a radial outlet opening in said tubular shaft;

(d) said tubular shaft adjacent said other end defining an axially outwardly and downwardly opening mouth communicating with said bore; and

(e) a diametrically extended wall portion carried by said tubular shaft and hisecting said mouth.

2. The structure of claim 1 in further combination with a cup-like catch basin concentrically mounted on said shaft adjacent said opening and adapted to catch core pieces from said radial outlet opening.

3 The structure of claim 1 in which said mouth includes a circumferentially extended, diametrically reduced lip portion.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which the outside diametric dimension of said shaft extending along a major portion thereof from said other end to said catch basin is not greater than that of said other end.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which the diametric di mension of said bore between said lip and said radial opening is not less than that of said bore adjacent said lip.

6. The structure of claim 1 in which said wall portion bisecting said mouth terminates axially within said bore in closely spaced relationship to said mouth.

7. The structure of claim 1 in which said bore at said one end is formed to direct the passage of core pieces in said bore toward said outlet opening.

8. A coring device for use with a power head having a rotary output shaft projecting therefrom comprising:

(a) a tubular shaft defining an axially extended bore;

(b) means for coupling one end of said shaft to the extended end of the rotary output shaft;

(c) said bore terminating adjacent said one end and defining thereat a radial outlet opening in said tubular shaft;

(d) said tubular shaft adjacent said other end defining an axially outwardly and downwardly opening mouth communicating with said bore; and

(e) means adjacent said other end for dividing said bore into at least two sections.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 872,093 11/ 1907 Stewart -404 1,882,906 10/1932 Renfer 175-405 X 3,273,930 9/1966 Gottfried 175-405 X 3,308,897 3/1967 Becker 175-405 3,313,363 4/1967 Henebry 175-207 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

NILE C. BYERS, Examiner. 

1. A CORING DEVICE FOR USE WITH A POWER HEAD HAVING A ROTARY OUTPUT SHAFT PROJECTING THEREFROM COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR SHAFT DEFINING AN AXIALLY EXTENDED BORE; (B) MEANS FOR COUPLING ONE END OF SAID SHAFT TO THE EXTENDED END OF THE ROTARY OUTPUT SHAFT; (C) SAID BORE TERMINATING ADJACENT SAID ONE END AND DEFINING THEREAT A RADIAL OUTLET OPENING IN SAID TUBULAR SHAFT; (D) SAID TUBULAR SHAFT ADJACENT SAID OTHER END DEFINING AN AXIALLY OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY OPENING MOUTH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BORE; AND (E) A DIAMETRICALLY EXTENDED WALL PORTION CARRIED BY SAID TUBULAR SHAFT AND BISECTING SAID MOUTH. 